“About the same as it went for you, yesterday,” Adam said. She could feel his voice rumbling against her. “Magorian is shredding them, in there.”
“I was given a report this morning,” she said. “A summary of the proceedings and an estimate of how it will be settled.”
“And…?” Adam asked curiously, his lips sliding along her jaw, making her pulse turn thready.
“Sauber will be found guilty of sedition and conspiracy to murder. Dhaval Bull of sedition and murder. The choice of punishment will be given to theEnduranceto pick from three choices.”
“They’ll put it to the vote?” Adam asked, amazed.
“I made the suggestion,” Devin admitted. “Then, suddenly, it was a thing.”
“You’re Captain. Suggestionsaredirect orders, coming from you.”
She nodded. “It was sobering. Only, that’s how I can get things done. How I can change things. Suggestions, directions, policies…there’ssomuch to be done.”
He chuckled. “Starting tomorrow, you get to do as much as you can. Tonight, though, can we forget about it all? I don’t think there will be any more chances to pause and breathe deeply, after tonight.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I was going to suggest that, myself. All our things are here. I was just looking around.” She glanced around the tiny kitchenette. The inadequate kitchen was merely for snacks, she had been told. Full meals would be supplied as needed by her staff.
“Well, it’s not the Rock House, is it?” Adam said.
“‘He says thankfully’,” Devin teased, leaning against him.
“I kinda like the house on the Table,” Adam said judiciously, wrapping his arms around her. “Now we can’t live there anymore, is when I figured it out. I think I’m always going to be a hindsight genius.”
Devin sighed. “We’ll be too busy to notice we’re not there, anyway.”
“So I’m told.” He kissed her brow. “Have you thought more about who you want as your Chief of Staff?”
“I have.” Devin straightened up. “You’re going to think I’m insane.”
“I’ve thought that about you since I met you. Were you thinking about Noa?”
“Yes,” she admitted, surprised. “Then it makes sense to you, too?”
“She runs the Institute like clockwork. She’d be brilliant as a Chief of Staff. Only, don’t ask her to appear in public.”
Devin smiled. “I’ll write it into her contract. Haydn will have to take over the running of the Institute and I’m going to strongly suggest he make you crew director.”
“You want me off the skin that bad, boss?” Adam asked gently.
“You should be director, because you’re good at it,” Devin told him. “You’ll still have to get out there with the Droolies every now and again…I don’t think you’ll be stuck inside forever. However, the Institute needs you. I know how much you’ve been helping Haydn through all this Caver business.”
“Someone has been flapping his mouth too much,” Adam muttered. Then he sighed. “Gelin can step up as crew boss. He’s ready.” He pulled her closer. “Any other changes, Captain?”
“I think there have been more than enough changes for now,” Devin said. “Most of them are good ones. Let’s enjoy them for a while.”
Adam’s arms tightened around her. “Good idea, boss. This here—” and his arms tightened, “is one change I’m going to enjoy for a very,verylong time.”
